Geist

Kathy L. Helbert and Gerald A. Geist Jr. were married March 28 in Huffs Church, Alburtis. Karen Dietrich was matron of honor and Terry Kercher, a cousin, was best man. The bride is a daughter of Emma and Charles Helbert of Mertztown. A graduate of Brandywine High School and Allentown Business School, the bride is a medical receptionist for Dr. Dennis Moss. The bridegroom is a son of Martha and Gerald A. Geist of Alburtis. A graduate of Brandywine High School, Geist is employed by Berks Products in Kutztown.

A year ago Jamie Alvord tried to recruit David Espinoza to join him on the tandem bike at Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Espinoza declined but was able to persuade one of his friends, Leandro Bottasso, to join Alvord. The Alvord-Bottasso duo eventually dominated Tandemonium night. This year, Espinoza relented and joined Alvord. And like the Alvord-Bottasso tandem a year ago, the Alvord-Espinoza combo proved to be a winner. The pair held off perennial runner-up Matt Diefenbach and partner Tyler Nothstein on Friday night to win one of the feature events as Friday night racing at the Concrete Crater resumed after a holiday break.

Lottie S. Geist, 96, of 1332 N. Van Buren St, Allentown, died Sunday, Sept. 30, in ManorCare Health Services, Palmer Township. She was the wife of the late Harold W. Geist Sr. She was an office secretary for Muhlenberg College. She was a member of Midway Manor Moravian Church, Allentown. Survivors: Sons, Harold of Allentown, William in South Carolina, six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren. Services: Private. Arrangements, Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.

A little over a month ago, Jamie Alvord gave the crowd at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown a huge scare. Alvord had to be backboarded off the track and rushed to a hospital by ambulance after a crash in a six-lap scratch race on June 28. He broke a scapula and three ribs, and suffered a severe concussion. Friday night, he not only showed he can race with the best of them, but that he can win, too. Alvord, from King of Prussia, served as the stoker, or back-seat pedaler, and teamed with Argentina's Leandro Bottasso to win Tandemonium in the bicycle-built-for-two sprint tournament in front of more than 2,000 people.

Myrl V. Geist, 77, of New Tripoli, died Aug. 3 in her home. She was married to David W. Geist for 55 years in March. She was a seamstress for various knitting mills in the area for 15 years. Born in Lenhartsville, she was a daughter of the late Floyd and Annie (Dietrich) Schlenker. She was a member of Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Krumsville. Survivors: Husband; son, Terry D. of Emmaus; two grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday, Schmoyer Funeral Home, 8926 Brookdale Road, Breinigsville.

Ruth A. Geist, 81, of John Knox Village, Orange City, Fla., formerly of Allentown, died Monday in the village medical center. She was the wife of the late Ray A. Geist. Born in Chanute, Kan., she was a daughter of the late Henry J. and Maggie (Kuhns) Ritter. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Allentown. Survivor: Sister, Mrs. Dorothy M. Bachman of Fullerton. Graveside services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Grandview Cemetery, Allentown. No calling hours. Arrangements, J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown.

Robert G. Geist Sr., 71, of Alburtis died Thursday, March 25, at home. He was the husband of the late Grace F. (Moll) Geist. He was a die setter for the Caloric Corp., former Topton plant, for 35 years until retiring in 1983. Born in Breinigsville, he was a son of the late Robert J. and Estella (Miller) Geist. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a life member of the Alburtis Nimrod Club. Survivors: Son, Robert G. Jr. of Emmaus; daughters, Mrs. Sharon Noel of Linden, Tenn.

Kim Geist's Olympic dreams were in her heart and mind in August 2007. She was on the cusp of qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team and out on a familiar training ride, pedaling along Route 100 in Macungie, dreaming the dream that had fueled so many training rides before, so many hours in the gym, so many carefully measured and proportioned calories. That dream was shattered, not by a competing rider, but by the driver of an 18-wheel tractor trailer that nearly crushed Geist to death when it ran over her. "I had six broken ribs, a fractured vertebrae, fractured sacrum, fractured pelvis and partially collapsed both of my lungs," the now 24-year-old Geist said last week at Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown.

The parents of a Walnutport woman who died after being severely burned in an explosion last spring at Victaulic's Lower Macungie Township plant are suing four companies they say had a role in causing the blast. Richard and Brenda Geist, parents of Bridgette Geist, 37, who died in the April 12 accident, filed the lawsuit Monday in Northampton County Court, alleging the companies were negligent in the design, construction and refurbishment of a furnace that failed, spilling molten metal on Geist and two coworkers.

Victaulic Corp. in Alburtis failed to provide protective gear that could have shielded employees from a furnace blast that fatally injured one worker and badly burned another, the federal government says. An investigation found two alleged violations, which carry fines totaling $32,000, but they are not directly tied to the cause of the April 12 blast. The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration's final report focuses on the Quarry Road plant's autopour melt deck, the area where the employees were reportedly working when burned.

The woman severely burned Monday in a furnace blast at the Victaulic plant in Lower Macungie Township died Thursday evening, a Steelworkers union official said. Bridget Geist, 37, of Walnutport died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest as a result of injuries suffered in the blast and fire, said Jerry Green, president of the Steelworkers of America Local 2599. "It's confirmed," Green said. "We got word through my union chairman at the plant. "I feel very sad. I knew Bridget.

Doris M. Geist, 81, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, formerly of Harmony Township, died Thursday, February 4, 2010, at Lehigh Valley Hospital In-Patient Hospice, Allentown. She was the wife of the late Alvin Geist Jr., who died in March 2002. Born in Tamaqua on February 24, 1928, she was a daughter of the late John and Mae (Miller) Moore. She was a graduate of Tamaqua High School. Prior to her retirement, Doris worked as a homemaker for Warren County Homemaker Services. She enjoyed making crafts and ceramics.

William L. Geist, 69, of Hereford, passed away on February 2 in his residence. Born in Pottstown, he was the son of the late Harold Wolfe and Lottie Bell (Scott). William was the husband of Marilyn (Held) Geist for 45 years. William was employed by Nappa Auto Parts, retiring in 2003; he was a fraternal order of the Masons and was an avid car enthusiast. Survivors: Daughters; Cynthia Reinhard of Allentown, Debra Lindaberry of Coopersburg, Michele Laubach of Susquehanna; also his canine friend, Shiylo.